The Sims: Makin' Magic
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The Sims: Makin' Magic is the seventh and final expansion pack for The Sims, and was released on October 28, 2003. It was the last expansion pack to be made for The Sims, as The Sims 2 was to be released in the following year. The main theme of the expansion pack - magic - would later be incorporated into The Sims 2: Apartment Life and The Sims 3: Supernatural.
Magic
The main feature of the expansion pack is the ability for Sims to perform magic charms and spells, which work much like cooking meals from a recipe book. Ingredients are added to a Sim's inventory, from where they are used with the correct equipment to produce an item of food, or charge the Sim's magic wand with a spell, or produce a charm.
Upon moving in a new family, the Mystery Man appears with a box which includes a wand for each member of the family, a spell book, a wand charger, 35 MagiCoins and a Hole In The Ground which provides easy access to Magic Town.
Casting spells on other Sims in the main neighbourhood is met with a fine by the Mystery Man. However this is not the case in Magic Town, although the spells may backfire as the vast majority of Magic Town residents are equiped with their own wands.
A variety of spells can be cast including spells to make Sims fall in love or to turn them in to toads for a short period of time. The wand charger is used to charge your sims wand with any spell you desire as long as you have the ingredients to do so. These ingredients can be bought from many merchants around Magic town.
New Life States
Two new life states were added in Makin' Magic; Zombie and Werewolf although these were only for cosmetic purposes and they still function as normal Sims. They are accessed by using the Spells (The Sims: Makin' Magic)#List of charms#Beauty or Beast charm), and are temporary, lasting a few game hours before the spell wears off.
A vampire and fairy appear, but only as NPCs, specifically Vicki Vampiress and Faerie Queen Mara. Playable Sims cannot actually be vampires or fairies, though the Beauty or Beast charm does include looks that resemble these are well.
New NPCs
A variety on NPCs were added with Makin' Magic including a Skeletal Maid: Bonehilda, a vampire who sells draconic items: Vicki Vampiress, and the Mystery Man who would leave a box of supplies at a Sims house upon moving in and also sells wands. Other NPCs include, but are not limtied to; Apothecary Todd, Nagganaste, FlaminGoGo Dancer, and Gardening Gnome.
New objects
Magic themed objects are in abundance. Including spellbooks, Crystal Clear Ability Rocks, Beehive, Butter churn, A Hole in the Ground, Spinning Wheel, Gargoyle Bench.
New building themes
- Magic carnival
- Tuscany
- Spooky shingles and vines
Currency
MagiCoins are the main form of currency in Magic Town and can be used to buy various things ranging from beeswax to your own Magic Town house!
MagiCoins can be earned in various ways from performing on one of the stages or at the small tricks table, winning duel, or by selling ingredients to the vendors.
Magic Town
The expansion added Magic Town which is a seperate area from the main game's town which is inhabitd by all maner of magical sims. Included are a variety of lots including a carnival area and even residential areas where Sims can buy houses, which can either be bought with standard Simoleons or MagiCoins.
Pets
Makin' Magic added the ability to have a dragon as a pet. They can be bought as an egg from Viki Vampiress in Magic Town. Viki Vampiress also sells items like Dragon treats. Unlike ordinary pet (dogs and cats), the dragon is treated more as an object, though animated, and rather than a sim; it does not appear in the list of family member, is not counted as part of the family size, and its attributes cannot be viewed. The dragons personality (one of three types) seems to be determined by how the egg is cared for. Dragons eat flowers, and if not cared for carefully are very likely to leave.
Features and Allusions to other Expansion Packs
- If Unleashed is installed, sims can craft the "A Friend Indeed" charm which will turn pets into human sims. One of the ingredients, Pet Treats, is exclusive to Unleashed.
- If Superstar is installed, sims can craft the "Price of Fame" charm which will give the user 4.5 fame stars. One of the ingredients, Black Roses, is exclusive to Superstar.
Cover features
Bella, Mortimer and Cassandra Goth with wands and a pet dragon are shown on the back of the North American box cover.
Media
Audio
| Track | Real-world preview! |
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| The Sims: Makin' Magic Theme |
Video
<videogallery> Video:The Sims Makin Magic Official Video Trailer|The Sims Makin Magic Official Video Trailer </videogallery>
| "The Sims" Chronology | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Sims: Superstar May 15, 2003 |
The Sims series PC games | Followed by The Sims 2 September 14, 2004 |
| The Sims expansion packs | Last expansion pack for The Sims
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| The Sims series expansion packs | Followed by The Sims 2: University March 1, 2005 | |
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